Synopsis Right from the launching of India's First Five Year Plan (1951-56), the crucial role of education in the country's development has been recognized and emphasized. Within the education sector, elementary education has been given the highest priority in terms of sub-sectoral allocations and the number of schemes launched by the central government to meet the needs of the educationally disadvantaged. In 2008, a scheme to universalize education at the secondary level was launched. Vocational education remains within the broader school curriculum and involves the provision of specific skills to increase the employability of the students. Higher education is of vital importance for the country in consolidating its comparative advantage in skill- and knowledge-intensive services and in building a knowledge-based society. The investment made in higher education has contributed significantly to India's economic development, social progress, and political democracy. For India's economy, skill development poses major challenges and also opens up unprecedented doors of opportunity. This book provides a comprehensive introduction on the current status of education, training, and skill development in India. It contains documentation of the objectives, policies, programs, and achievements in these areas.